The Courts

An already tense Supreme Court confirmation took another twist late Friday after President Donald Trump agreed to ask the FBI to further investigate allegations against nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who could potentially be the deciding vote on a number of health-related cases should he eke through the process.

The American Clinical Laboratory Association is weighing legal options after the federal DC district court on Friday (Sept. 21) dismissed the group's lawsuit challenging reporting policies that drive down CMS' payment for clinical lab services.

A federal Judge on Friday dismissed a suit against Kaiser Permanente that charged the issuer's decision to cover cochlear implants but not hearing aids violated the Affordable Care Act's 1557 non-discrimination provisions, which bars plans from discriminating on the base of race, disability, color, national origin, sex, or transgender status.

A group of seven health industry stakeholders, including health plans and patient and providers groups, are asking a federal district court to declare the Trump administration's short-term limited plan rule unlawful, arguing it undercuts the Affordable Care Act and arbitrarily reverses earlier limits on the products.

Six states engaged in litigation over an Obamacare tax on Medicaid plans filed papers this week asking a Texas federal judge to block the IRS from collecting that tax on Oct. 1.

The Oklahoma Department of Insurance released guidance on Friday (Sept. 7) limiting the sale of the state's short-term plans to a period of fewer than six months, in contrast to the Trump administration’s new limit of 364 days.

The federal government is obligated to reimburse Montana Health Cooperative around $5.7 million owed in cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments after it ended disbursements last October, a federal court said Tuesday.

Fort Worth--Federal District Court Judge Reed O’Connor wrapped up three hours of oral arguments on Wednesday saying he will respond “as quickly as possible” to the 20 GOP-led states’ request to stop enforcement of the entire Affordable Care Act, as well as the Trump administration's alternative request to deem the individual mandate unconstitutional and ax the guarantee issue and community rating requirements in the plaintiffs' states.

The American Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges and America’s Essential Hospitals refiled their lawsuit to reverse CMS’ cut to Part B reimbursement for 340B drugs.